Spain laboured to an uninspiring 1-0 victory over Iberian rivals Portugal of their last-16 tie to arrange a quarter-final assembly with the winners of USA vs Belgium.
In an underwhelming recreation that didn’t reside as much as billing in Dallas, Mikel Merino proved decisive, arriving late from the bench and latching onto a sensible Ferran Torres go to plant past the clutches of Diogo Costa in second-half stoppage time.
His calm and conclusive strike was the one actual second of high quality from an encounter boasting so many superstars, none of whom have been in a position to rise to the event fairly in the best way many rival nations’ high-profile gamers have.
The consequence, in fact, had penalties for Portugal past ending their event, too. Cristiano Ronaldo revealed earlier than the sport that this summer season marks his final look at a World Cup. The Portugal captain was visibly emotional on the shut, figuring out his facet didn’t correctly present up for his closing farewell tour. There will probably be no fairytale ending to a world profession that spectacularly spanned twenty years.
Ronaldo was really the one Portugal participant to land a shot heading in the right direction all evening, with Spain’s immense management and spectacular defensive construction profitable out. They’ve change into the primary staff in World Cup historical past to register six successive clear sheets, and are but to concede a objective at this event.
Luis de la Fuente’s facet advance to the quarter-final stage for the primary time since profitable their solely World Cup title again in 2010 in South Africa, and face both the US or Belgium on Friday.
The important thing moments from Arlington
3: SAVE! Mikel Oyarzabal attracts a good cease from Diogo Costa by touchdown the primary effort heading in the right direction of the sport.
8: SITTER! Oyarzabal dragged his effort broad from a promising place in acres of area.
11: VAR! Ronaldo claims for a penalty after a scuffle with Rodri within the field, the place he finally ends up floored. VAR test however nothing given.
16: DOUBLE SAVE! Diogo Costa produces two stops to disclaim each Lamine Yamal and Baena on the follow-up.
37: CHANCE! Ronaldo latches onto a glancing header throughout objective from Joao Felix however cannot beat Unai Simon.
41: Nuno Mendes rattles a rasping effort off the crossbar through the top of Pedro Porro.
76: MISS! Bruno Fernandes crashes an effort into the side-netting after good work from substitute Rafael Leao.
90+1: GOAL! Merino is slipped by means of by Torres and beats Costa with a neat, low end contained in the publish.
Farewell, Cristiano
Cristiano Ronaldo’s twenty seventh World Cup look conspired to be his final. He scored in all six editions by which he appeared, holding the all-time report for highest variety of tournaments scored at.
